Power-transmission gear.



PATENTED APR.12, 1904. w. 0. BROWN POWER TRANSMISSION GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1903.

No MODEL.

PAT'ENTED APR. 12. 1904.

W 0 BROWN POWER TRANSMISSION GEAR.

'APPLIOATION FILED MAY 2) 1903.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

3W 6 .0 8 1! 1 I /w.

N0 -'757,261r PATENTED'APR. 12, 1904 POWER TRANSMISSION GEAR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1903.

H0 MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

"11653631 I 1 I11 uerflof 'I UNITED (STATES Patented April 12', 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM C. BROWN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL HYDROCARBON CAR COMPANY, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPO- RATION OF ILLINOIS.

POWER-TRANSMISSION GEAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 757,261, dated April 12, 1904. ApplicatioxifiledMayZ,1903. Serial No. 165,280. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, WILLIAM O. BRowN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power-Transmission Gears, of which the following is a specification.

As shown and described in the present specification, this invention is applied to a streetrailway car; but the invention is equally adapted for use with automobiles or other power-drivenvehicles, and, in fact, is adapted for use in any connection in which it is desirable to have a gear and clutch mechanism for varying the degree of speed transmittedfrom the power-shaft to the motor-shaft. The invention is'so arranged that the speed may be increased or diminished automatically by the movement of a single controlling wheel or lever, wlnch movement simultaneously operates the several clutches and brake mechanisms employed for varying thespeed, and such I movement will be uniform and certain under all conditions for the reason that it is impossible to connect one set of gears before another set has been disengaged, since such engagement and disengagement is entirely automatic in its operation .and not dependent upon the carefulness and skill of the operator in charge.-

Ihe invention consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts here'- inafter described and claimed.

In the drawings illustrating the invention,

Figure 1 is a top or plan view showing the arrangement of the gears. as employed on a streetrailway car in which are employed clutches 1 and 2, gearings 3 and 4:, andacombined clutch and gear mechanism 5, arranged in suitable relation to one another; Fig. 2, a half sectional View of the clutch mechanisms of land 2 and gear mechanisms 3 and 4; Fig; 3, atop plan view of the gear mechanism 3; Fig. 4, a plan view of the clutch mechanisms 1 and 2, showing the outer ring or collar partly broken away; Fig. 5, a half sectional view of the gear and clutch mechanism 5; F gs, 6 an 7, diagrammatic plan views of the groove verserelation to. each other. mechanism 1 is carried by a sleeve 1), which encircles'the power-shaft and 1s supported surface of the controlling-cylinder foroperating the various mechanisms; Fig. 8, a detail side view of the end of one of the controlling arms or levers adapted to operate within the grooved cylinder, and Fig. 9 a plan view of the same' As shown, the power-transmission device of this invention is mounted on the framework sisting of outer side supporting-rails A, outer end rails A, and an inner frame consisting of side rails B and end ralls B and across the ofa street-railway car, such'framework coni'nner frame are journaled supporting crossrails I) and b and a longitudinal supportingbar If, although the'arrangeinent of supporting-frames and j ournal-supports may beadapted to suit the requirements of each particular case, and the framework herein described serves merely for purposes of illustration and is not intended in any way to limit thescope of the invention. I

Between the journal-supports b and b Is a powershaft C, supported within journalboxes 0 and provided at its end with a bal ance-wheel C and further provided with a crank 'Which may be attached anyshit" clutch mechanisms 1 and 2, which are similar in all their details, but are arranged in re- The clutch therefrom by means of a; bushing 0 which arrangement allows the space between the shaft and thesleeve to be filled with oil, grease, or other lubricant. v Rotatably mounted upon the inner sleeve-D is a gear-wheel D, provided with a hub 11, and to' the "upper and lower side faces of the gear-wheel are fastened'eircular collars 1 each provided with inwardly-extendingflanges through which pass bolts 6, which serve to unite the flanged circular collars to the gear-wheel D. Each of the circular collars is provided on its outer edge with an annular contactflange 6 in- 'wardly extending. Within the space between the annular contacteflanges and the inwardlyextending attaching-flange are arranged interior circular friction-plates F, the inner one of which is keyed to an outer sleeve F, en-

circling the inner sleeve, and the outer one of which is keyed to the inner sleeve D by means of keys f, arranged within hubs f on the respective friction-plates. It will thus be seen that one of the friction-plates is united to the inner sleeve, whereas the oppositelydisposed friction-plate is united to the outer sleeve, adapting the twofriction contact devices for separate and independent operation spective clutches.

with respect to one another. Exterior of the annular contact-flanges are located frictionrings G, suitably spaced, so that when in normal position their, inner or contact faces will be out of contact with the annular contactflanges, and on the friction-plates and on the contacting faces of the 'friction rings are leather rings or disks. g, adapted to press against the inner and outer faces of the contact-flange when one of the clutches is thrown into engagement with its cooperating contactflange. The contact-rings are slidably mounted on bolts or pins 9, passing through holes g in the friction-plates, which arrangement per extending outwardly from the hub thereon,

To the free ends of the pressure-fingers are pivoted linksI-I,whichlinks in turn arepivoted to clutch-collars I, the collar operatingclutch No. 1 being slidably mounted upon the inner sleeve D and the clutch-collar operating clutch No. 2 being slidably mounted on theouter sleeve F. Each of the clutch-collars is provided with-an inner flange '11 and an outer flange 6',

leaving a groove or channel 77 for the reception of the levers adapted to operate the re- I An inward movement of one or the other of the slidable clutch-collars serves to impart pressure through links and pressure-arms to the inwardly-extending contact-fingers,thereby causing the friction-rings v and friction-plates to be drawn together, contacting the inner and outer faces of one or the other of the contact-flanges and serving to firmly clutch the flange, and thereby establishv preventing revolution of the wheel.

connection between the gear-wheel D and either the inner or the outer sleeve, depending upon'which of the clutch mechanisms 1 and'2 is thrown into engagement.

The sleeve D terminates in a circular 'journal-plate J, and the sleeve F terminates in a gear-wheel J which encircles the'circular journal-plate and is provided on its inner face with a gearing j, and beyond the gear-wheel J and in contact therewith is a recessed wheel K of the same size as the gear-wheelJ and provided on its lower side with a journal-plate is, from which extends a hub 76, which encircles a bushing on the power-shaft. Upon the shaft'between the recessed'wh eel and the circular journal-plate J is a power-transmission gear-wheel L, which, as shown, bears a relation of one to four internal gearing of the gear-wheel J, and between the power-trans-- mission gear-wheel and the gear-wheel D arelocated intermediate gears L, .two orv mounted upon journals Z, rotatably mounted within the circular journal plate and the interior flat face of the recessed wheel. recessed wheel and journal-plate are united to one another at a fixed distance by means of bolts or pins Z, as shown in Fig. 3, which pass from the journal-plate to the flat face of the hollow wheel and are secured thereto.

Exterior of the gear-wheel J are strap-brake mechanisms 3 and 4, each of which consists of a strap M passing around the wheel for which more in number, and said gear-wheels are The it is intendedand held in place between annular ridges m, formed on the exterior rounded surfaces of the wheels; Each of the straps terminates in outwardly-turned ears M, pro' vided with holes m passing therethrough, and through said holes are extended brake-rods m provided with adjustable nuts m. The straps are not of suflicient length to entirely encircle the wheels to which they are applied,

so that a movement of the brakerod causes the ends of the straps to be contracted toward one another, thereby setting the brake and The power carried to the power-shaft revolves the power-transmission gear-Wheel L,

which in turn, as shown, transmits power to the interior gear of the wheel J, causing the latter to revolve at a speed one-fourth that of the power-shaft and in a direction opposite thereto. By throwing clutch No. l and set ting the :brake on No. 3 the gear-wheel J" will be held stationary and the interior sleeve D be caused to revolve in the same direction as the revolution of the power-shaft and at a speed equal to one-fourth of such revolution. The interior sleeve being brought into engagement by means of clutch 1 with the gearwheel J will consequently transmit to such gear-wheel one revolution for every four of the power-shaft.

If brake No'. 3 be loosened and clutches Nos.

sleeves will be locked together, forming, in

effect, a single sleeve, and the intermediate gear-wheels, being locked against revolution, will serve to lock the sleeves to the powershaft. causing the entire mechanism to revolve at the speed of the power-shaft and in the same direction. If clutch 2 and brake 4 be set, the gear-wheel J" will be revolved at a speed equal to one-fourth that of the power-shaft and in a direction opposite thereto.

The gear-wheel l) meshes with a transmission gear-wheel N, located on an intermediate shaft N; preferably provided with knuckleoints a and suitably supported in journalboxes 72., and on the intermediate shaft is located a clutch and brake mechanism 5, the

clutch mechanism being identical with" that heretofore described and the gear and brake mechanism being arranged asfollows: A gearwheel 0, similar to the gear-wheel J, is located above the circular collar Eand provided with a l'latouter face 0', terminating in a neck 0, which neck surrounds a sleeve 0, provided with a circular journalplate 0, similar to the.

journal-plate J, which plate lies within the flat face 0 of the ear-wheel O and is supported thereby, and between the journal-plate and the circular collar E are intermediate gear wheels P, meshing with the interior teeth of the gear-wheel O and with the teeth of a gearwheel P on the-intermediate shaft, the gearwheel .P having, a relation of one to two, as shown, with the gear-wheel 0, whereby two revolutions of'the intermediate shaft will produce a single revolution of the'gear-whel O and neck carried thereby. On the sleeve 0 is a bevel-pinion y), meshing with a motor bevelpinion p on the axle 71 and, as shown, the relation between these two pinions is as one to four, although any other relation might be had.

The relation between the gear-wheels D and N is as two to one, so that one revolution of the gear-wheel .1) will produce two revolutions of the intermediate shaft. By throwing the clutch 5, which is keyed onto the intermediate shaft, and loosening the brake 5 the entire revolution of, illlGlDilOl'HlOtlliltG shaft will be transmittml to the bevel-pinion, which in turn will transmit one revolution to the axle for every four revolutions of the intermediate shaft, the relation between the pinions being as one to four. By loosening the clutch and tightening the brake the sleeve 0 and bevel-pinion thereon will be revolved at a speed equal to one-half thatof the intermediate shaft and in a direction opposite thereto. it will thusbe seen that the clutch and brake 5 enable the speed to be varied still further, and acting-in combination with the mechanism on the power-shaft increases the efficiency of the en: tire device.

In order that the operation of the several clutches and brakes shall be coordinated, a grooved cylinder Q has been provided, moun ted upon a controlling-shaft Q, which latter is provided with a pinion 1 at its end, which is adapted to receive motion from a wheel or lever in the hands of the operator. The surface of the cylinder is provided with a series of grooves 1, 2, 3, and 4:, as shown in Fig. (5, andasimilar cyll nder Q, as shown in Fig.

7, is provided with a groove 5 for operating the combined clutch and brake mechanism 5. The clutch mechanisms are provided with straight levers R, R and R and the brake mechanisms are'provided with bell-crank levers R and it, all of thelevers being pivoted on a rod or bar R, extending longitudinally of the frame of the car. Each of the clutchlevers R, R and R is forked at its end to encircle the clutclrcollar with which it cooperates, and the lever B is provided with an arm '1', set at an angle thereto, onto which arm is pivoted a rod wi hitherto described, which operates the brake mechanism of clutch No. 5. Similar rods m are pivoted to the ends of the bell-crank levers R and R for operating the brake mechanisms 3 and 4. At the end of each of the rods hitherto described is a centrally-pivotedroller 1", downwardly eX-.

tending into one of the slots in the controlling-cylinder, so that the rotary motion of the cylinder will cause the levers to be moved with respect to the slots in the cylinder, so that the action of each one of the levers will depend upon the shape of the slot by which it is controlled. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the controlling-cylinders are arranged to vary the speed imparted to the axle from five miles per hourup to forty and give a reverse speed,

when desired, of from live toten miles an hour,

although of course these speeds are merely given'for purposes of illustration and in no wise limit the character of the invention. The line zero illustrates the point at which all of tlielevers stand when the car is atrest and no motion is being imparted to the shaft. It will be noted that at the line 5 the lovers controlling clutch No. 1 and brake No. 3 will have been moved to set the mechanism which they control and that as the speed is increased to ten miles an hour the clutch and brake'mechanism No; 5 will be'moved to loosen the brake and tighten the clutch, that as the controllingcylindersware still further turned to increase the speed to twenty miles an hour the clutches H. will both remain tight, No. 3 will be loosened, and No. 5 will be reversed, loosening the clutch and t ghtening the brake. To secure a'speed of forty miles an hour, Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4 will remain as at twenty and No. 5 will be reversed, loosening the brake and tightening the clutch. ..In order to reverse, the mechanism 2 and at are thrown and shown in the diagram and 5 remains as at zero. By

a further reverse turn of the controlling-cylinder the position of No. 5 is reversed, loosening the brake and tightening the clutch, which doubles the reverse speed and gives a reverse speed of ten miles an hour.

It will thus be seen that the arrangement of slots in the controlling-cylinders makes the operation entirely coordinated and depending upon a single act of the operator, so that the different mechanisms will always be operated at the correct time and without the necessity for remembering each particular combination 'of movements necessary to increase or diminish the speed of the car or other vehicle.

The coordination and cooperation of two head of gears on coacting shafts, each head of gear adapted to receive and impart varying speeds of rotation and each operated by suitable clutch mechanisms, enables a great variation in the speed imparted to the shaft'by the diflerent combinations of movement that may be effected between the two heads of gears. The ultimate speed finally imparted to the driving-axle will depend upon the relative arrangement of the two heads of gears with respect to one another, and in view of the plurality of speeds that may be obtained with either of the heads of gear independently it is 'plain that the variations which may be obtained by the two heads operating to.- gether will be greatly increased.

Although the invention has been described with considerable particularity as to detail, and although the variousdevices have been given a certain proportionate relation to each other as to the size of gears and the speed of shafts, it will be understood that these figures are given entirely for the purpose of illustration and are not intended to be absolute or to limit in any Way the nature of the invention,

since the size or relation of the difierent gearsion gear-wheel adapted to be engaged by both the clutches, substantially as described.

2. In power-transmission gears, the combination of a power-shaft, a rigid gear-wheel mounted on the power shaft, intermediate gear-wheels meshing therewith, a gear-wheel exterior of the intermediate wheels and pro- I vided with interior teeth meshing with the inwas;

termediate gear wheels, two clutch mechan- I isms one connected with'the intermediate gearwheels and the other connected with the ex terior gear-wheel, a power-transmission gearwheel adapted to be engaged by both the clutches, a brake mechanism adapted to hold the intermediate gear-Wheels against revolution around thepower-shaft, and a brake mechanism adapted to engage the exterior gearwheel, substantially as described.

3. Inpower-transmission gears, the-combr nation of a power-shaft, a fixed gear-wheel mounted on the power-shaft, an inner sleeve on the power-shaft, an outer sleeve exteriorof the inner sleeve and terminating in-an exterior gear-wheel provided with internal teeth, intermediate gear-wheel's rotatably connecte with the inner sleeve and adapted to mesh with the fixed gear;whee l and the exterior, gearwheel, .a power transmission gear wheel, a clutch mechanism connected with the interior sleeve, and a clutch mechanism connected with the exterior sleeve, both clutch mechanisms being adapted to engage the power-transmission gear-Wheel, substantially as described.

4:. In power-transmission gears, the combination of a power-shaft, a fixed gear wheel -mounted 'on the power-shaft, an inner sleeve on the power-shaft, an outer sleeve exterior of the inner sleeve and termmating in an exterior gear-wheel provided with internal teeth,

intermediate gear-wheels rotatably connected with the inner sleeve and adapted to mesh with the fixed gear-wheel and the exterior gearwheel, a power-transmission gearwheel, a clutch mechanism connected with the interior sleeve, exterior sleeve, both clutch mechanisms being adapted to engage the po'wentransmission gear-wheel, a brake mechanism adapted to a clutch mechanism connected with the hold the intermediate gear-wheels against revolution around the power-shaft, and a brake mechanism adapted to engage the exterior gear-wheel, substantially asdescribed.

5. In power-transmission gears, the combination of a power-shaft, a fixed gear-wheel on the power-shaft, an inner sleeve on the powershaft terminating in an outwardly-extending journal-plate, an exterior sleeve encircling the interior sleeve and terminating in an exterior gear-wheel provided with interior teeth, a recessed wheel rotatablymounted on the powershaft, intermediate gear-wheels meshing with the fixed gear-wheel and the exterior gear wheel and rotatably mounted between the recessed wheel and the journal-plate, a power-- transmission gear-Wheel rotatably mounted on the interior sleeve, a clutch mechanism on the interior sleeve, and a clutch mechanism on the exterior sleeve both clutch mechanisms adapted to engage the, power F transmission gesir-whelto transmit power from one of the sleeves, substantially as described.

6. In power-transmission gears, the combination of a powershaft, a fixed gear-wheel on the power-shaft, an inner sleeve on the powershaftterminating in an ontwardly-extending journal-plate, an exterior sleeve encircling the interior sleeve and terminating in an exterior gear-wheel provided withintm'ior teeth, a recessed wheel rotatably mounted on the power shaft, intermediate gear-wheels meshing with the fixed gear-wheel and the exterior gearanisms being adapted to prevent rotation of the sleeves, substantially as described.

7. In power-transmission gears, the combination of two shafts, a gear mechanism operating between the shafts, planetary gears having predetermined ratios to one'another on each of the shafts adapted to receive and impart varying speeds, and clutch mechanisms on each of the shafts adapted to work in conjunction with the respective planetary gears to vary the speeds imparted thereby, substantially as described.

8. In power-transmission gears, the combination of a power-transmitting and a powerreceiving shaft having a cooperative relation to one another, a gear mechanism cooperating between the shafts, gears on each of the shafts having predetermined ratios toone another, each of the gears being adapted to receive and'to impart varying degrees of rotation and adapted to lock with its respective shaft and rotate therewith, and means for varying the degrees of speed imparted from the shafts through their respective gears, sub+ 'stantiallyas described.

9. A power-transmission gear consisting of a powershaft and an intermediate shaft, a fixed gear-wheel on the power-shaft, apowertransmission gear-wheel rotatably mounted with respect to the power-shaft, two clutch mechanisms adapted to engage with the powertransmission gear-wheel, both of the clutch mechanisms adapted to receive motion from the fixed gear-wheel, an intermediate powertransmission gear wheel meshing with the power-transmission gear-wheel, vafixed gearwheel mounted on the lntermediate shaft, a

pinion rotatably mounted with respect; to the intermediate shaft and adapted to receive full speed of revolution from the power-shaft and reduced speed of revolution from the fixed gear thereon, and means for changing the 1 speed of .the revolution imparted to the pinion, su bstantiallyv as described.

10. In.po\ver-transmission gears, the combination of a power-shaft, a'lixed gear-wheel mounted on the powenshaft, a transmission gear-wheel revolubly mounted on the powershaft, an exteriorgear-wheel rev'olu bly mounted on the shaft and provided with interior teeth, intermediate gear-wheels meshing with the fixed gear-wheel and the exterior gearwheel,two clutch mechanisms one of them con nected with the exterior gear-wheel and the other one connected with the intermediate gear-wheels both clutch mechanisms adapted to impart motion to the p0wer transmitting gear-wheel, a power-transmission shaft adaptedto receive motion from the power-transmission gear-wheel, a pinion revolubly mounted on the power-transmission shaft, a gear mechanism on the power-transmission shaft, and a clutch mechanism adapted to transmitting revolution to the pinionthrough the gear mechanism, substantially" as described.

11. In power-transmission gears, a com bined brake and clutch mechanism consisting of arotatable shaft, afixed gear-wheel mounted on the shaft, an exterior gear-wheel encircling the shaft, provided with interior teeth,

intermediate gear-wheels meshing with the fixed gear-wheel and the external gear-wheel, a mounting for the intermediate gear-wheels, a pinion on the mounting, a brake mechanism adapted to engage the exteriorgear-wheel, a clutch mechanism adapted to engage the mounting for the intermediate pinions, a controlling-cylinder provided in its face with a groove, and a leyer connectedwith the clutch and brake mechanism and adapted to enter the groove in the cylinder and be controlled thereby to operate the brake and clutch mechanisms, substantially as described.

12. In power-transmission gears, the combination of a power-shaft, a fixed gear on the power-shaft, an externalgear-wheel provided with interior teeth, said external gear-wheel having a predetermined ratio to the fixed gear-wheel, intermediate gear-wheels meshing with the fixed gear-wheel and the external gear-wheel, a power-transmission gear-wheel.

rotatably mounted with respect to the power-' shaft, two clutch mechanisms adapted to engage the power-transmission gear-wheel, one

of the clutch mechanisms connected with the external gear-wheel and the other clutch mechanism connected with the intermediate gearwheels, a'brake mechanism adapted to prevent rotation of the external gear-wheel and a brake mechanism adapted to hold the intermediate gear-wheels in fixed relation with respect to the shaft, a power-transmission shaft, a gearwheel on the power-transmission shaft meshing with the power-transmission gear-wheel, a fixed gear-wheel on the power-transmission shaft, an external gear-wheel rotatably mountv ed with respect to the power-transmission shaft and provided with interior teeth, intermediate gearfw heel's meshing with the fixed gear-Wheel and the teeth of the external gear: wheel, the fixed gear-wheel and exterior gearwheel having a predetermined ratio different from the ratio of the fixed gear-wheel, and external gear-wheel on the power-shaft, a

clutch mechanism adapted to lock the exter- I nal gear-Wheel to the shaft, and a brake mechanism adapted to prevent rotation of the ex' ternal gear-Wheel, substantially as described.

WILLIAM 0. BROWN. Witnesses:

' SAMUEL W. BANNING,

WALKER BANNING. 

